Reusable bedspring crate



Feb. 28, 1961 c. M. DUNLAP 2,973,090

REUSABLE BEDSPRING CRATE Filed Sept. 19, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Cfiarlefl M Dunlap BY m A TTORNE Y5 Feb. 28, 1961 c. M. DUNLAP REUSABLEBEDSPRING CRATE Filed Sept. 19, 1958 2 sneaks-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

gfhrzefl M DalzZap ,4 TTORNEYS ilnited. rates areas he annual) nEUsAnLEnnnsrnmo CRATE Charles M. Dunlap, Mansfield, Ohio (3342. Waltham Ave,Kettering 29, (lhio) Filed Sept. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 762,047

22 Claims. (Cl. 266-65) This invention relates to a reusable crateadapted to secure together a number of springs, such as bedsprings, incompressed condition for shipment or for storage.

When crating bedsprings for shipping or for storage, it has beencustomary to place a quantity (15 or 20) between two sheets of cardboardand two grids of Wooden slats. Pressure is applied to the two grids toflatten the bedsprings. While in the flattened or compressed state,loops of wire are placed over the slats at one end, the ends of thewires are forced through the cardboards and through the openings in thecoils of the springs or through the interstices between the coils, thewire ends being brought out over the slats at the other end and twistedtogether. Compact bundles are thereby provided, re-

uiring much less space for shipment or storage than the bedsprings intheir uncompressed condition.

It has been the practice, heretofore, to destroy the slats, wire andcardboard when the crates are opened. This practice is not only wastefulof materials which are used only once and then destroyed, but thecrating itself is laborious and time consuming.

The preferred form of the present invention comprises a plurality ofpairs of slats adapted to be disposed on opposite sides of a singlebedspring or a stack of bedsprings. One of each of said pairs of slatsis provided with a number of spaced elongated pins, having notchesadjacent the outer end. The other of each of said pairs of slats isprovided with a number of spaced openings adapted to receive the notchedends of the pins, and latching means engageable in the notches to retainthe single bedspring or the stack of bedsprings in compressed condition.Locking means are provided to retain the latching means in position.

It is the object of this invention, therefore, to provide a crateassembly, especially for bedsprings, which can be quickly, securely andeconomically assembled by unskilled workmen.

Another object is to provide a crate assembly which can be quicklyassembled, disassembled, and used over and over again.

Another object is to provide a crate assembly which can be employed fora relatively few or for many bedsprings.

Another object is to provide a crate assembly having relatively fewparts forming cooperating pairs which may be placed on opposite sides ofthe compressed bedsprings and readily latched together.

Another object is to provide a crate assembly comprising cooperatingpairs of slats which may be employed for crating twin size, single size,or double size bedsprings by selecting the required number of pairs.

Another object is to provide a crate assembly comprising pairs ofcooperating slat elements which are adapted to be readily and accuratelypositioned in the bedplate and platen of a press for compressing aplurality of bedsprings.

Another object is to provide a crate assembly comprising pairs ofcooperating slats in which one slat carries a plurality of pins adaptedto pass through the compressed bedsprings and to be received, latchedand locked by the other slat.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consistof certain novel features of construction and operation as will bemorefully described and particularly pointed out in the specification,drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the deviceand wherein like reference characters are employed to designate likeparts- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the bedspring crate in use;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation there of;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the latch andlocking means taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic front elevation of a press for assembling thebedspring crate;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic side elevation thereof;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a ball plungerassembly for holding the lower slats of the bedspring crate on thebedplate of the press of Figs. 5 and 6 with parts broken away forclarity;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary end elevation of the ball plunger assembly asviewed from the right of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view af the ball plungerassembly for holding the'upper slats of the bedspring crate'to the upperplaten of the press of Figs. 5 and 6; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary end elevation of the ball plunger assembly,partly in section, as viewed from the right of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment, thecrate assembly comprises a plurality of upper or pin-carrying slats 1Gand an equal number of lower or latch-carrying slats 12. The terms upperand lower, as used herein, are not intended as limiting in' the sense oflocation but are used as convenient terminology, based on preferredpositioning in a press, as it has been found more advantageous to placethe upper, or pincarr-ying slats, in the upper platen of the press andthe lower, or latch-carrying slats, in the bedplate of the press.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the slats 10 are adapted to be placed inspaced relation on one side of a single bedspring or a stack ofsuperposed bedsprings, and the slats 12 are adapted to be placed atcorresponding spaced relation on the other side of the bedspring orbedsprings. There is shown a plurality of bedsprings 14, having coils 16therein which are secured together and in spaced relation to arectangular frame 19 by means of a plurality of helical springs 18. Itis understood, however, that the crate assembly can be used with othertypes of bedsprings.

The slats 10, as shown, are angle-shaped in cross section, including abase 20 and an upstanding leg '22. A plurality of pins 24, passingthrough spaced openings 26 in the base 29', are provided. The upper endsof the pins are secured to the slats, as by welding, shown at 28. Asillustrated, six of such pins are provided for each slat,

but it is evident that more or less may be used .as found desirable. Thepins 24 are preferably circular in cross section, and a portion of theouter end thereof is made of reduced diameter, as shown at 30. The outerend of the reduced diameter portion is tapered at 32 at 32'for a purposeto be .pointed'out hereinafter. The reduced outer end portion St isprovided with a notch 34 having a shaped in cross section, having a base36 and an upstanding leg 40. The base is provided with a plurality ofopenings 38, equal in number and spacing with the pins 24. Cooperatingwith the slat 12 is a latching device, 42, generally angle-shaped incross section, and extending nearly the length of the slats. Thelatching device includes a relatively narrow base leg 44 and a somewhatlonger upstanding leg 46, and is adapted to be slidably mounted in theangle formed by the base 36 and upstanding leg 40 of slat 12. Theupstanding leg 46 is provided with a plurality of spaced elongated slots48, which are engaged by rivets 50 in the upstanding leg 46 of slat 12,permitting limited sliding movement of latching device 42 relative toslat 12. As shown in Fig. 4, the base 44 is also provided with aplurality of cutaway portions or recesses 52, one for each pin. In thearrangement of parts shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the latching device isat one end of its movement in which the base 44 is located within thenotches 32 of pins 24 and engages shoulders 35 of said pins to latch theslats and 12 together. To unlatch the pins, the latching device 42 ismoved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 4, which operation will bring thecut-away portions or recesses 52 in alignment with the ends 30 of pins24, whereby the pins are unlatched and are free to move through openings38. A protuberance 54 is provided on one end of the upstanding leg ofthe latching device 42 which engages either opening 56 or 58 in anupstanding leg 44 serving as a lock to retain the latching device ineither its latched or unlatched position.

It should be noted, referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, that the rivets 50are positioned so that they are in alignment with the ends of the pins24 and that the rivet heads are of such dimension that they contact theends 30. This arrangement provides a construtcion in which the rivetheads serve as guiding means to prevent shoulder from engaging the sidewalls of openings 33 when the slats are separated.

In operation, a number of bedsprings 14 are secured together. Referringto Figs. 5 and 6, there is shown a press 60 having the usual bedplate62, and hydraulic ram 64 carrying a movable platen 66. Adjacent the endsof the platen are a plurality of ball plunger arrangements 68 eachcomprising a slot 70 having therein a spring pressed ball 72. Openings74 are provided adjacent the ends of slats 1i) and 12. In operation, theupstanding legs of the slats are inserted in the slots 70 so that thespring pressed balls 72 engage openings 74 in the slats, which willproperly align the upper and lower slats in mated relation. Slats 12 areplaced in position on bedplate 62 with base leg 36 in the position shownin Figs. 7 and 8. A cardboard 76 is placed on the slats 12 and thebedsprings 14 are then stacked above the cardboard, there being inserteda sheet of kraft paper 78 between adjacent bedsprings. As shown, 15springs are stacked, but it is understood that more or less may bestacked. The top of the stack is covered by another cardboard 76. Slats10 may then be inserted in the ball plunger arrangement 63 in the platen66, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, in which the pins 24 are directeddownwardly. Fins 24 are spaced so that they freely pass through thecoils 16 or through the interstices between such coils when pressure isapplied to the press, which forces the pins to perforate the cardhoards76 and sheets of paper 78, while compressing the springs into a compactbundle, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The latching device should occupy itsunlatched position, in which the protuberance 54 registers with opening58 and recesses 52 are aligned with pins 24. In this position the pins24 pass freely through the openings 38 in the lower slats 12, thetapered portion 32 assuring such passage in case of slight misalignment.When so compressed, the operator slides the latching means so that therecesses 52 are moved from alignment with the notches and a portion ofthe base 4 is brought into alignment with the notches as shown in Fig.4. Protuberance 54 engages opening 56, thereby locking the latchingdevice in its latched position. Having thus latched and locked the pins,pressure in the ram may be relieved, and the crated assembly is readilyremoved from the press. A very compact bundle is thereby formedoccupying a minimum of space. As an example, a stack of 1S bedsprings,which normally would be about 8 high, may be compressed into a bundleapproximately 7 /2" high, which represents a material saving in spacefor storage or for shipping.

The slats are usually arranged lengthwise of the bedsprings and extendabout 2 inches beyond the ends thereof, as shown in the drawings. Thisconstruction permits the forks of a fork truck to be easily passedbetween slats when standing on end. As standard bedsprings, whethertwin-size, single-size, or double-size, are usually the same length,namely 73 /2", it is evident that slats 78 inches long could be used forany size bedsprings with the same overhang on the ends, and that thenumber of pairs used would depend on the width of the bedsprings. In theexample illustrated, a double bedspring is shown, which is usually 52inches wide. Four pairs of slats are shown, which has been found to besuflicient. Three pairs of slats may be used for narrower bedspringssuch as twin-size or single-size.

While the above description relates to bedsprings, it is evident thatthe assembly could be used for other springs, such as automobile seatcushion springs, without change. The assembly could also be employed tocompress a single bedspring by proper design of the pin lengths.

From the foregoing, it is evident that there has been provided a cratingassembly which can be quickly put together for crating and packing aplurality of bedsprings, and which can likewise be quickly disassembledwhen required. The assembly requires one or more pairs of cooperatingslats which can be reused, thereby obtaining economy in the use ofmaterials and a considerable saving of time in crating and uncrating.

. Changes in the specific form of the invention, as herein described,may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A crate assembly adapted for retaining one or more bedsprings incompressed condition comprising, a pair of slat means to be positionedon opposite sides of a bedspring or a stack of bedsprings, one of saidslat means including connecting means rigid with said one of said slatmeans and extending laterally therefrom, said connecting means, when theassembly is used to crate a bedspring or a stack of bedsprings, passingthrough or between the springs of said bedspring or bedsprings, theother of said slat means including aligned means receiving saidconnecting means, and other means, carried by said other slat means andcooperating with said receiving means, securing said connecting means tosaid other slat means.

2. A crate assembly adapted for retaining one or more bedsprings incompressed condition comprising, a pinrality of pairs of cooperatingslats to be positioned on opposite sides of a bedspring or stack ofbedsprings, one of each of said pairs of slats including connectingmeans rigid with said one of each of said pairs of slats and extendinglaterally therefrom, said connecting means, when slat means to bepositioned on .o'pp'ositesides of.a"'be'dspringorastackof bedsprings,one .of said slatm'eans including connecting means r-igid with said oneofisaid slot means and extending laterally therefrom, said connectingmeans, when the assembly is used to crate a bedspring or a'stack ofbedsprings, passing through or between the springs of bedspring or stackof bedsprings, the other of said slat means including aligned meansreceiving said connecting means, and other means, carried by said otherslat means and cooperating with said receiving means, latching saidconnecting means to said other of said slat means.

4. A crate assembly for retaining one or more bedsprings in compressedcondition as recited in claim 3, in which said connecting meanscomprises one or more pins secured to said one of said slat means.

5. A crate assembly for retaining one or more bedsprings in compressedcondition as recited in claim 3, in which said connecting meanscomprises one or more pins secured to said one of said slat means, thelatching means on said other of said slat means engaging the ends ofsaid pins.

6. A crate assembly for retaining one or more bedsprings in compressedcondition as recited in claim 5, in which notches are provided in saidpins, and in which said latching means includes a movable memberengaging said notches.

7. A crate assembly for retaining one or more bedsprings in compressedcondition as recited in claim 6, in which said movable member isslidably connected with said other of said slat means and includes acut-away surface and a notch-engaging surface, the said movable member,when in one position, unlatching said pins to allow free movement pastthe cut-away surface, and, when in another position, latching said pinsagainst movement by interengagement of said notch and said notchengagingsurface.

8. A crate assembly for retaining one or more bedsprings in compressedcondition as recited in claim 7, including detents associated with themovable member and the other of said slat means to lock said movablemember in either of its latching or unlatching positions.

9. A crate assembly adapted for retaining a single bed spring or aplurality of superposed bedsprings in compressed condition comprising: aplurality of slats to be positioned, in spaced relation to one another,on one outer surface of said bedspring or bedsprings; an equal number ofslats to be positioned in corresponding positions on the other outersurface of said bedspring or bedsprings; connecting means rigid withsaid plurality of slats and extending laterally therefrom, saidconnecting means, when the assembly is used to crate a bedspring orsuperposed bedsprings, passing between or through the springs of saidbedspring or bedsprings; aligned means carried by said equal number ofslats receiving said connecting means, and other means, carried by saidequal number of slats and cooperating with said receiving means,latching said connecting means to said equal number of slats.

10. A crate assembly as recited in claim 9, in which the connectingmeans comprise pins having notches therein, and the latching meansengage said notches.

11. A crate assembly as recited in claim 10, including means to locksaid latching means in its latched and unlatched positions.

12. A crate assembly as recited in claim 9, in which said slats areangle-shaped in cross-section.

13. A crate assembly adapted for retaining one or more bedsprings incompressed condition, comprising: slat means to be positioned againstone side of bedspring or a stack of bedsprings; connecting meanscomprising a plurality of pins rigid with said slats and extendinglaterally therefrom, said connecting means, when the as sembly is usedto crate a bedspring or a stack of bedsp ings, passing between orthrough the springs of said "*6 bedspring or bedsprings; other slatimea'ns occupying cor: responding positions against the other side of'said bed spring or stack of bedsprings, said other slat means beingprovided with openings ali gned with said pins, each of said pins beingprovided with -a notch receivable in said openings; movable meanscarried by said other slat means engaging said notches to latch the pinsagainst movement; and means to support said movable means on said otherslat means, said supporting means being mounted adjacent the end of saidpins whereby it engages the ends of said pins to prevent the notchesfrom engaging with the walls defining said openings in said other slatmeans.

14. A crate assembly as recited in claim 13, in which said movablelatching means is provided with a surface engageable within said notchesin said pins and with a cutaway portion permitting unlatching of saidpins.

15. A crate assembly as recited in claim 13, in which said supportingmeans comprise rivets, the heads of said rivets disposed to engage theends of said pins.

16. A crate assembly as recited in claim 13, in which the slat means areangled shaped in cross section, and in which the supporting means forthe movable means in the latch-carrying slat means are mounted in anupstanding leg.

17. In combination: a plurality of bedsprings in compressed and stackedrelation; a crate assembly retaining said relation comprising first slatmeans positioned on one side of said stacked bedsprings in engagementtherewith, connecting means, rigid with said first slat means andextending laterally therefrom, passing through said stacked bedsprings,second slat means positioned on an opposed side of said stackedbedsprings in engagement therewith, said second slat means having meansreceiving said connecting means, and securing means, carried by saidsecond slat means, cooperating with said receiving means and engagingsaid connecting means to latch said connecting means to said second slatmeans.

18. The combination as recited in claim 17, in which the connectingmeans comprises one or more pins having notches in the outer ends, andin which the securing means includes a slidable member moving from adisengaging position to a position engaging said notches.

19. The combination as recited in claim 18, in which said slidablemember includes cut-away surfaces and notch engaging surfaces, thecut-away and notch engaging surfaces spaced on the slidable memberwhereby when the slidable member is in one position, the pins have freemovement past said cut-away surfaces, and when in another position, theno-tch engaging surfaces engage the notches in the pins.

20. The combination as recited in claim 18, including means, carried bythe slidable member and second slat means, to lock the slidable memberin its latching and unlatching positions.

21. A crate assembly including one or more pairs of slat means to retainone or more bedsprings in stacked and compressed condition, the slatmeans comprising elongated members of angle cross section, a pair ofwhich is disposed on opposite sides of the bedspring or stack ofbedsprings in abutting relation therewith, connecting means comprising aplurality of pins rigid with one slat means of each pair and extendinglaterally therefrom, passing through or between the springs of thebedspring or bedsprings, the outer ends of said pins having notches, theother slat means of each pair provided with openings aligned with andreceiving the notched ends of said pins passing through or between thesprings, movable latch means carried by said other slat means engagingsaid notches to fasten the slat means together, said movable latch meansincluding cut-away portions permitting separation of the slat means.

22. In a crate assembly as recited in claim 21, detent means, carried bythe latch means and cooperating with 7 notches in the other slat means,to lock the latch means 2,098,461 in position. 2,172,547 2,309,795References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 51,259,397 Hathaway Mar. 12, 1918 388,842

8 Micallef Nov. 9, 1937 Ruth Sept. 12, 1939 Siegel Feb. 2, 1943 FOREIGNPATENTS 7 Germany Jan. 21, 1924

